HEATING AND COOLING CONTROL METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20100211224A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enagea LLC
• Original Assignee: Enagea LLC
• Inventors: Keeling, Peter Lewis, Keeling, Oliver Joe
• Granted Patent: US 8,543,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/277
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/0209 characterised by their connecting means, e.g. flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts

Abstract

The present invention is related to the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). More particularly, the present invention is related to methods and systems for controlled heating and cooling in order to reduce costs and the carbon footprint of said heating and cooling by optimizing the use of fresh air ventilation. The present invention is directed to mathematical algorithms incorporated into a controller and a method of determining control signals that are dependent on said mathematical algorithms and user programming that integrates information from multiple sensors, thermostats as well as weather information. Used in any home or building, the controller controls heating, cooling and ventilation systems in order to reduce costs and the carbon footprint of said heating and cooling by optimizing the use of fresh air ventilation. The controller works with typical HVAC systems generally in buildings and homes. The Smart-Stat algorithms are programmed into the controller and enable the controller to identify user-determined set-points alongside data from one or multiple internal temperature sensors. The user-determined set-points are also linked to time of day and day of week in a manner typical for typical thermostat devices available today. In such typical thermostat devices the controller will call for cooling or heating depending on the set points and conditions determined by the sensors in the building. The present invention is capable of interrupting the call for cooling or heating depending on whether the mathematical algorithms identify suitable outside weather conditions that permit the use of outside air cooling or outside air heating. Thus the call for heating or cooling can be redirected to call for ventilation instead of heating or cooling.

Claims

1. A controller for regulating the temperature within a building that controls the use of a whole-building ventilation apparatus as an alternative to HVAC system by reacting to outside and inside conditions, wherein said controller comprises:

a. an internal sensor that monitors temperature in the building,

b. an outside sensor that monitors current outside air temperature,

c. a whole-building ventilation apparatus comprising a building exhaust duct, housing at least one damper and fan that determines air flow out of the building,

d. a microprocessor system that sets logical set-points based on mathematical algorithms that uses the said internal and external sensor,

e. a series of switch relays controlled by the said microprocessor system that determine whether calls for cooling or heating are directed to the said whole-building ventilation apparatus or HVAC system.

2. A controller and whole-building ventilation apparatus and HVAC system as described in claim 1 wherein said apparatus additionally comprises a local weather forecasting data retrieval system provided over the internet or alternatively over a wireless connection.

3. A controller and whole-building ventilation apparatus and HVAC system as described in claim 1 or 2 wherein said apparatus additionally comprises an ability to compute heat-models of building heat loss or gain relative to inside and outside environmental conditions wherein said controller uses said computed heat-models to optimize algorithms for improved set-points for HVAC control.

4. A controller and whole-building ventilation apparatus and HVAC system as described in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said apparatus additionally comprises a fresh air supply duct, housing at least one damper and optionally a fan that determines air flow into the building based on control signals from the controller.

5. A controller and whole-building ventilation apparatus and HVAC system as described in claim 3 wherein said apparatus additionally comprises a means of monitoring air flow rate in said ducts so as to achieve a balance of air exhaust and intake.

6. A controller as described in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said controller also computes logical set-points based on additional humidity sensors in the building as well as outside air humidity sensors.

7. A controller as described in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said controller is user-programmable so as to enable a user to define time-based temperature set-points for improved comfort in the building.

8. A controller as described in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said controller and apparatus is interfaced with and determines set-points for the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the building and controls the use of whole-building ventilation apparatus in combination with the HVAC system.

9. A controller as described in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 wherein said controller is interfaced with and interrupts calls from a typical building thermostat for the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) in the building and controls the use of whole-building ventilation apparatus as an alternative to the building HVAC system.

10. A controller as described in any of the above claims wherein said controller uses computed heat-models to calculate possible improvements in building energy efficiency and inform users of said possible improvements in building energy efficiency.

11. A controller as described in claim 10 wherein said controller will optimize use of whole-building ventilation apparatus and/or heating and cooling cycles in a building HVAC system for improved energy efficiency.

12. A whole-building ventilation apparatus and HVAC system controlled by a controller as described in any of the above claims.